UVa vs. Maryland: The backyard game

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Did he get the first down? How about the touchdown?

Two years later, that’s still asked of Mikell Simpson’s fourth-quarter heroics against Maryland — a pair of plays that went upstairs to the replay booth, and still brings strong feelings out of both sides.

The 18-17 victory for UVa was the seventh consecutive for the team, as well as a breakout game for the then-sophomore running back. His opportunity came as a result of injuries to the players in front of him.

This week, the rivalry could offer a similar opportunity to one of the ’Hoos young rushers, though Simpson will make every effort to play after being carted off the field last Saturday with a neck injury. He’s already back to working out with the team.

Fullback Rashawn Jackson said that Simpson’s status won’t affect how the team approaches the game.

“We go all out every day — it’s pretty uptempo, pretty physical,” Jackson said. “So whether or not Mikell’s in, we’ll be ready to go.”

Simpson would also like to play because it’s the closest UVa gets to his hometown of Harrisburg, Pa. He certainly gave friends and family something to cheer for two years ago, starting with a fourth-and-four run with less than 42 seconds left.

“The energy in that stadium was one of the most surreal experiences of my life,” linebacker Aaron Clark said. “We were all on the sideline holding hands, watching plays, not watching plays, trying to figure out if he made the first down.”

The fourth-down gain went to video replay, a close call that was ultimately upheld.

When asked Monday if it was a legit call, Clark laughed before offering a playful “no comment.”

That wasn’t the end of the excitement, though. From the one-yard line, Simpson dove over the goal line, crossing it right before he fumbled the ball, a turnover that would have ended the game. Instead, it was the winning touchdown.

The close finish was typical of what the rivalry has produced in recent years. “We take it personally, and I’m sure they do too,” Jackson said. “I’m sure there’s a little extra enthusiasm and anxiety from both sides this week.”

Coach Al Groh said that Saturday will be a measuring stick for how far the team has come since the beginning of the year. Just as that ’07 victory was part of a run that followed a loss to Wyoming, this year’s game also comes in the midst of a two-game winning streak that followed some bad losses.

“This will be a critical challenge for us, to find out just how much consistency we’re developing,” he said. “Otherwise, it’s just a sporadic start-and-sputter thing.”

Regardless of the outcome, it will be tough to deliver an encore to the show the teams put on in College Park two years ago.

“It was a great football experience,” Clark said. “That’s definitely something I’ll remember forever.”

Phillips is a staff writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.